Haze: Muar API reading reaches a high of 453

KUALA LUMPUR: The Air Pollutant Index (API) in Muar reached hazardous level with a reading of 453 at 4pm Saturday, with air quality deteriorating from the 373 reading recorded earlier at 11am.

Muar Natural Disaster (Air Pollution and Haze) Committee chairman Abdul Rahman Mohamed Dewam said the air quality in the district had continued deteriorating as the reading increased from 276 at 7am to 312 (8am), 338 (9am) and 360 (10am).

According to the Department of Environment’s (DOE) website, unhealthy air quality was also recorded in 10 areas across the country, including Kota Tinggi with an API reading of 189, Larkin Lama (167), Pasir Gudang (187), Bandaraya Melaka (188) and Bukit Rambai (170).

Thirty-nine other areas registered moderate API readings, while two areas had good air quality.

A reading of between 0-50 is categorised as good, 51 to 100 (moderate), 101-200 (unhealthy), 201 to 300 (very unhealthy), and 300 and above hazardous.

The DOE website did not provide an API reading for Muar on as at 5pm Saturday.

In SHAH ALAM, Selangor DOE director Siti Zaleha Ibrahim said the air quality in many areas in the state worsened on Saturday but the situation was expected to improve in a few days.

“Continuous monitoring will be carried out until the API reading recorded a healthy air quality, especially in Port Klang which is nearest to Sumatra. The DOE will take action against any parties violating the regulations on open burning,” she said.

Two areas in Selangor which recorded unhealthy air quality were Port Klang (145) and Banting (107). – Bernama